Title: Budgeting of Civil Construction Works in Brazil: Linear Correlation Assigned to the Market Cost and the Reference Cost

Abstract:-- This article proposes a reflection on the type of methodology and statistical treatment to be used in research on costs, for inputs used in civil construction, aiming to define a remuneration increasingly compatible with the charges assumed by Brazilian bidders. The objective is to identify, through the Pearson linear correlation coefficient, which reference system, among the three used for budgeting works of civil construction, has the lowest margin of overpricing and/or underpricing in relation to the cost effectively traded in the market. The Costs Bulletin System (SBC Informative) presented the main results, 0.9766 and 0.9808, respectively, for material and labor inputs, with a confidence level equal to 99%.

Title: Long-Term Estimation of Water Losses Through Evaporation from Water Surfaces of Nasser Lake Reservoir, Egypt

Abstract:-- This work aims to long-term estimate water loss through evaporation from an open water surfaces of Aswan High Dam Reservoir (AHDR) using of local hydrological and meteorological data collected from instrumented platforms at nine locations: front of High Dam, Kohr Kalbshka, Wadi abud north Allaqi, Almalka, Amada, Kohr Toshka, Toshka, Abu Simple, and Argeen. Bulk Areodydimic method applied using monthly available hydrometeorological data with longest data record of the last 20 years (from water year 1995/1996 to 2014/2015). Water losses by evaporation vary from 12.004 × 109m3 (in 1995/1996) to 15.53 × 109m3 (in 2007/2008) with an average of 13.62 × 109m3/year. Water budget is another method used to estimate evaporation losses for the past 5 decades (last 51 years) from 1964, after the construction of the High Dam and before forming Nasser Lake reservoir till now. The relationships between water losses by evaporation, lake water level, inflow arriving the lake, and changes of the lake water storage were detected and show many variations. Percentage of evaporation relative to water storage in the lake vary from 3.55% to 20.26%, with an average of 10.94%; and it ranges between 0.24% and 21.18% with average of 12.65% relative to the water income to the lake.

Title: Additives in Public Construction Works: a Case Study of a Public Institution in Brazil

Abstract:-- The main objective of this study was to collect data from a Brazilian federal institution and analyze them. Data collected consist in cost overruns and schedule delay amendments of the institution’s most relevant construction works and which are the main motivating factors for not complying with costs and schedule. Cost overruns allow the modification of a contract without a new bidding process. It is a legal instrument widely used in the public sector. The research method was based on a documentation survey of construction works completed in thirteen months and on interviews with engineers and architects involved with the routine inspection of construction works in the studied institution. A high percentage of works with contractual amendments was found related to a very high schedule delay and significant cost overruns. The main element reported as a cost overrun generator is project deficiencies related to the lack of a feedback system according to which mistakes found during the execution of the work are not reported to project designers in order to improve the process. The research contributes to point the need for more studies on a little discussed area thereby promoting the social purpose of public construction works with a better quality and planning.

Title: University-Industry Cooperation: Conduct of Research Projects and Construction to the Path of Innovation in the Brazilian Oil Industry

Abstract:-- Each day increases the need of research that attends the fast process of technological innovation in the world. This situation brought together universities and companies. However, many are the universities that are still far from the market reality and far from successful partnership in research, largely because of the precarious or inadequate laboratory facilities. This article presents the relevance of cooperation between university and industry as an important arrangement as the industry's innovation capacity, and analyzes the matter of knowledge management involved. It also presents a brief survey of the Brazilian scenario, where companies seek proximity to universities, which therefore has need to increase its professional staff trained to manage construction projects and technological research. A few years ago the cenario was not favorable, but with good expectation due to the legal obligation of investment that the oil industry has to perform in partnership with universities.

Title: Analysis of Project Management Tools for Implementation of Research and Development Infrastructure

Abstract:-- This paper analyzes the usage process of project management tools in the context of R&D; infrastructure implementation projects on the campus of Brazilian universities, from the perspective of best project management practices described in the PMBOK, understanding as implementation infrastructure the construction of buildings, laboratories, research rooms, control rooms, pilot plant and availability of any features related to the construction industry. The relevance of the study is to contribute to the adaptation of the best monitoring practices of infrastructure implementation projects destined to R&D; developed in partnership with universities. Adopting as a case those from partnerships between Brazilian universities and the company PETRO X, it was made a field research and a comparative study between the practice and the literature on project management tools, concluding that in the vast majority of the surveyed universities it has not been steadily developed the concept of project management and there is a lack of technical content for project managers on both sides of the Terms of Cooperation. The studies also suggest that project management tools should be centered in a support group (Project Office) in universities.

Title: Balanced Scorecard Applied to the Brazilian Public Sector in the Scope of Civil Construction

Abstract:-- The concepts of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) go far beyond simple performance measurement tools, as they allow organizations to establish the strategy and the ways to achieve organizational goals. The BSC has been used with great success by private organizations. Notwithstanding, its use in the public sector is still below the demand of society for greater transparency in resource management and improvement in the delivery of public services. This article aims, through a case study, to analyze and present a BSC proposal, a strategic map and performance indicators in two Strategic Business Units (SBUs) of different Brazilian federal autarchies, whose core business is the same: realization and supervision of civil construction projects at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Federal Fluminense University (UFF).

Title: Methodology for Sizing Wind Farm Collector Network Infrastructure using a Genetic Algorithm

Abstract:-- Wind farm collector network design consists primarily in finding a radial configuration to connect a set of wind generators to a substation. Depending on the size of the wind farm, the design of the project, considering the economic criterion, consists of a large combinatorial optimization problem, given the large number of possible configurations to be deployed. Thus, this article proposes a methodology based on a genetic algorithm (GA). The wording adopted in the GA considers the sizing of the collector network in which the investment in the construction and the present value of energy losses are adopted as the objective function in the optimization process. First, the mathematical model to define the objective function is presented, then the encoding of the chromosome is defined and the aptitude encoding function is described, and finally, the results and the more economically viable configuration are presented.

Title: Economic Valuation of Vehicular Emissions in Deployment of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System

Abstract:-- This paper aims to economically valuate the variation in vehicular emissions from a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which are estimated based on the variations they cause in hospitalization costs and working days lost due to diseases related to air pollution. Therefore, the International Vehicle Emission (IVE) model was used to estimate the emissions. For the economic valuation of vehicular emissions the chosen method was the method of marginal productivity. This method allows the use of a function that represents the relationship between pollution and the consequences on the health of the affected population. It also allows the use of an economical model that enables the calculation of monetary values that result from this relationship. This paper used the corridor BRT Transcarioca as a case study, deployed in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The economic valuation presented the expenses with public health and the decrease in productivity due to diseases related to pollution, generating an economy of R$ 14,396,277.85 per year by reducing these morbidities. This reinforces the importance of the BRTs systems as a transport alternative in the cities, not only to improve urban mobility, but also to promote important gains by reducing expenses with health.

Title: Regulations and Cost Estimation for the Decommissioning of a Sample Fixed Offshore Platform in Brazil

Abstract:-- Fixed offshore platforms become economically unfeasible when the production phase ends or maintenance and operation costs exceed the returns. In addition, aged fixed platforms pose an environmental threat since the risk of accidents increases over time and therefore need to be decommissioned. Due to the long history of offshore oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, the experience in the United States has led to industry wide standards for decommissioning offshore facilities. This paper describes the decommissioning activities for fixed offshore platforms including subsea installations at the seabed. The regulations of the United States are compared to the current set of regulations valid for the coast of Brazil. This paper further evaluates cost estimation assessments and identifies the principle components. The summarized cost studies provide the basis for the decommissioning of a sample fixed offshore platform located in the Campos Basin, offshore Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.